Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Two hereditary peers who are due to lose their seats in the House of Lords will still maintain their parliamentary passes and retain their ceremonial responsibilities. Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, and Lord Carrington secured this arrangement after privately expressing concerns about the importance of continuing their roles in managing state occasions.
Both men hold significant hereditary royal titles—Fitzalan-Howard as the Earl Marshal and Lord Carrington as the Lord Great Chamberlain. Their duties involve organising ceremonies related to the monarch within the Palace of Westminster, including events such as the state opening of Parliament. Although they will lose their voting and speaking rights in the Lords as part of Labour government reforms targeting hereditary peers, their ceremonial positions will remain intact.
These matters were raised with the leader of the Labour party in the House of Lords, Baroness Smith, approximately a year ago during the initial developments of the legislation removing hereditary peers. Both officeholders received assurances that they would continue to carry out their essential ceremonial functions. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace affirmed that “the ceremonial roles of the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain, as great officers of state, are preserved,” adding that they will maintain these duties within the Lords.
Public reaction varies, with some criticism from groups such as Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy. Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, described the two roles as outdated relics granting undue status simply by birthright. In contrast, supporters like Lord Roberts highlight the unique nature of their responsibilities, arguing that these roles are distinct from other hereditary peers and emphasizing their dignity and efficiency in serving the Crown and state. The Earl Marshal’s role, steeped in medieval tradition, involves overseeing major state ceremonies and has been held by the Howard family since 1672. Meanwhile, the Lord Great Chamberlain administers the royal areas of the Palace of Westminster and has been held by Lord Carrington since King Charles’s accession in 2022. The removal of most hereditary peers’ rights to sit in the House of Lords is scheduled to take full effect following the current parliamentary session
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.